The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO has officially opened its 1st Socio-Economics and Policy Development Conference and Exhibition at the KALRO Headquarters in Nairobi.
This inaugural conference marks a significant milestone in KALRO’s commitment to placing evidence-based policy and socio-economic analysis at the core of agricultural transformation in Kenya and the region.
Themed “Building Resilient Food Systems through Socio-Economics and Policy Research,” the three-day event brings together key stakeholders from research institutions, government, development partners, and the private sector to explore how socio-economic and policy research can shape Kenya’s agricultural future.
Speaking while officiating the opening ceremony, KALRO Director General (DG) Dr. Eliud Kireger underscored the need for research that not only generates innovative technologies, but also ensures these innovations are economically viable, socially inclusive, and guided by supportive policy frameworks.
Dr. Kireger highlighted the growing complexity of agricultural systems, noting that while KALRO continues to develop Technologies, Innovations, and Management Practices (TIMPs), their success depends heavily on understanding the socio-economic context, market systems, and policy environments in which they operate.
“The transformation of agriculture is not only about technology. It is about ensuring that innovations are socially acceptable, economically viable, and supported by sound policies and functional markets,” he said.
The DG said that the conference aligns with national priorities and policy instruments such as Kenya’s Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS), the Climate Smart Agriculture Strategy and the Food and Nutrition Security Implementation Plan.
“At the continental level, the conference responds to the CAADP Results Framework by advancing inclusive, evidence-based policy and market interventions,” he said.
Dr. Kireger lauded the role of KALRO’s socio-economics and policy experts in extending the impact of agricultural research from laboratories into real-world farming and market environments.
He encouraged active participation in the sessions to foster collaboration and actionable knowledge sharing.
The DG said partner institutions including ILRI, TEGEMEO, FAO, IDRC, and ICIPE are participating alongside pioneer socio-economists, who laid the foundation for policy-focused agricultural research at KALRO.
He commended their contribution to extending research impact beyond laboratories into farming communities.
The three-day conference features presentations and discussions structured around major sub-themes, including Market systems and agribusiness, Gender and youth inclusion in agriculture, Agricultural policy reform and Digital transformation in agricultural value chains.
The event is supported by a wide array of development partners and collaborators including KAFACI, AWARD, SAF-NICE, CIMMYT, ILRI, Tegemeo, and ICIPE.
By Anita Omwenga
